WHEREAS, Jesus taught that Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16); and

WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message acknowledges that “all Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society (XV. The Christian and the Social Order); and

WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message affirms that “every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love” (XV. The Christian and the Social Order); and

WHEREAS, Approximately 75 percent of Christians who are eligible to vote do not vote regularly; and

WHEREAS, The United States Constitution has placed our nation’s leadership in the hands of democratically elected public officials; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 15-16, 2004, encourage all Christians to fulfill their God-given responsibility to engage in the public life of the nation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we enjoin all Christians to learn about the platforms of all candidates in any election; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge all Christians to vote in accordance with biblical values rather than according to party lines, personalities, or candidate rhetoric; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage churches to hold voter education and registration drives that will enable them and other members of their communities to become more aware of the importance of their involvement in the political process; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge every Christian of voting age to exercise his or her God-given responsibility and constitutionally guaranteed right to engage in the political life of our nation by voting in every appropriate election; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commend ivotevalues.com, a ministry of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, to our churches to assist them with their efforts to educate and register their church members and others to vote; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage Christian men and women to pursue positions of public leadership and service within the government at the local, state, and federal levels; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we commit to pray for our elected leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2).